help with picking a new kubota please

MikeinMich · Apr 7, 2017

Hi all. After a decade of using my l3400, I need to move up to something bigger. I've got about 20 acres of hay and 40 acres of wood, horses and we're in the middle of building an arena. I'm cutting hay, using a 5' drum mower and a new holland square baler, and although it works ok, it's kind of slow and I don't get the use of anything to crush the stalks so it dries faster. I also use a brush hog, and do a lot of fel work for moving wood, rocks, gravel, etc. I really like the HST on the 3400, so i initially wanted to move up to either an l6060 or an mx5800. I also wanted to get three remote hydraulic valves because one of the reasons I'm moving up is because I need to move a lot of dirt etc for the arena and i have a 1/2 mile long driveway and it would be nice to be able to angle the blade a lot easier. I started settling on the mx because the l6060 is more expensive and i don't think i'd use most of the more interesting features. But then I start poking around on this site and see the posts on the m7070 and it looks like it prices out on the kubota site at around the same price as the 6060??? and i like the idea of a 540/540E PTO ( i was looking into getting an electric generator and using the tractor to power it instead of a stand alone diesel ) Is the transmission on the 7070 that much harder to use than the hst? any recommendations would be definitely appreciated.

ProjectKing · Apr 7, 2017

MikeinMich said:
Hi all. After a decade of using my l3400, I need to move up to something bigger. I've got about 20 acres of hay and 40 acres of wood, horses and we're in the middle of building an arena. I'm cutting hay, using a 5' drum mower and a new holland square baler, and although it works ok, it's kind of slow and I don't get the use of anything to crush the stalks so it dries faster. I also use a brush hog, and do a lot of fel work for moving wood, rocks, gravel, etc. I really like the HST on the 3400, so i initially wanted to move up to either an l6060 or an mx5800. I also wanted to get three remote hydraulic valves because one of the reasons I'm moving up is because I need to move a lot of dirt etc for the arena and i have a 1/2 mile long driveway and it would be nice to be able to angle the blade a lot easier. I started settling on the mx because the l6060 is more expensive and i don't think i'd use most of the more interesting features. But then I start poking around on this site and see the posts on the m7070 and it looks like it prices out on the kubota site at around the same price as the 6060??? and i like the idea of a 540/540E PTO ( i was looking into getting an electric generator and using the tractor to power it instead of a stand alone diesel ) Is the transmission on the 7070 that much harder to use than the hst? any recommendations would be definitely appreciated.

You really need a much bigger tractor than the L3400 for that many acres. I'd consider the MX5800 or the M7070. Have you driven manual transmissions before? For PTO work I prefer a manual transmission. But loader work the HST is excellent. You could keep the L3400 for loader work and use the bigger new tractor for the heavy hay baling, etc. Having more than one tractor is real nice.

MikeinMich · Apr 10, 2017

I haven't driven a "modern" manual transmission yet (just some poking around on an old JD). I was going to try one out, but I think my decision has been narrowed for me. My wife has thus decreed that we need another HST one (on the ground that she's not going to get any younger and she hates shifting even now), so its between the l6060 and the mx5800 at this point I guess, since both of those have HSTs now. It's ok- one of the reasons I want a new one is because the L3400 isn't cutting it on the loader end of the spectrum at this point very well anyway (we move a LOT of dirt, driveway stones etc- almost as much "landscaping" and wood moving as farming at this point). I'm definitely keeping the l3400 too. I totally agree that it's nice to have more than one tractor and I have a backhoe for it and don't really need a bigger one of those so I'm guessing its going to remain useful in a lot of ways no matter what).

TripleR · Apr 10, 2017

I have to have a cab, so I bought a Grand L, but an open station MX will do anything a Grand L will. I love the HST+, but you sure pay a lot for it and a couple of other things.

MikeinMich · Apr 10, 2017

I know. I'd be looking at at least 7500 more for 600 pounds more 3pt lift capacity (which I'm not sure I need since the mx5800 gives me 2300 pounds) a third function valve ( that I can get later aftermarket if I want a grapple I suppose) and telescoping lower arms (which I'm sure I could get as an option). The rest is just preference I think. It's a hard one. I'll have to test drive them and/or see if dealers have any incentive to move one rather than the other I guess. Oh woe is me &#55357;&#56842;

nybirdman · Apr 10, 2017

I vote for the L6060;you will find you like all the added features.

TripleR · Apr 11, 2017

MikeinMich said:
I know. I'd be looking at at least 7500 more for 600 pounds more 3pt lift capacity (which I'm not sure I need since the mx5800 gives me 2300 pounds) a third function valve ( that I can get later aftermarket if I want a grapple I suppose) and telescoping lower arms (which I'm sure I could get as an option). The rest is just preference I think. It's a hard one. I'll have to test drive them and/or see if dealers have any incentive to move one rather than the other I guess. Oh woe is me ��

The extendable lower links are optional on the MX4800, but standard on the MX52/5800. Sit an old GL30 Series by an MX and they are essentially the same tractor frame etc., I had an L5030, no HST+ and loved it.

Don't get m wrong, given the choice, I'll always take the GL, but for the money, it's hard to beat the MX in the Kubota line.

MikeinMich · Apr 26, 2017

Well, I'm in the process of buying a MX5800. Thanks for all the advice.

I couldn't talk my wife into the shuttle transmission. I'm looking at at land pride grapple and forklifts too, and the top and tilt, w/loaded rear wheels. The grapple is expensive (list 3500), especially because I have to order their third function valve too. I'm planning on getting it from the same guy who sold us the L3400, but it's taking longer than I thought, because he's super busy. It appears that its the time of the year to buy tractors. ugh.

motownbrowne · Apr 26, 2017

MikeinMich said:
Well, I'm in the process of buying a MX5800. Thanks for all the advice. I couldn't talk my wife into the shuttle transmission. I'm looking at at land pride grapple and forklifts too, and the top and tilt, w/loaded rear wheels. The grapple is expensive (list 3500), especially because I have to order their third function valve too. I'm planning on getting it from the same guy who sold us the L3400, but it's taking longer than I thought, because he's super busy. It appears that its the time of the year to buy tractors. ugh.

Congrats, and welcome to club MX. If I were in your shoes, I'd probably look at installing the three remotes and the third function yourself and buying the grapple from Everything Attachments. Well, if you want to save some money you could explore that option anyway. A member here named LD1 made it pretty simple for us by doing an excellent write-up. Search for his name if you want the details. The link is in his signature.